Final answer:
Following John Smith's departure, the governance of Jamestown shifted from a council and president to a governor appointed by the Virginia Company, although this transition was initially impeded by the delayed arrival of the new charter and governor.
Step-by-step explanation:
After John Smith returned to England due to a severe injury and his term as the president of the Jamestown colony expiring, the Virginia Company underwent significant restructuring of their colonial governance. The company decided to shift from a council and president system to appointing a governor to oversee the colony. Ships with new colonists, including families and skilled laborers, arrived to enforce the new charter.
However, the full transition was stalled because the ship carrying the new charter and the new governor had not arrived, leaving John Smith's old rivals to cause immediate conflict.
The Virginia Company made this change in response to the multiple challenges faced by Jamestown, including infighting, severe food shortages, and frequent conflicts with the local Powhatan Indians.
These conflicts escalated when English settlers attacked Indian tribes with little provocation, leading to a constant state of hostility. With Smith's departure, the hope of maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Native Americans further deteriorated, as he had been notably better at diplomatic relations than the other English leaders at Jamestown.